mullistaa

Mullistaa is a Finnish verb meaning to cause upheaval or disruption, and more broadly to bring about a fundamental or abrupt change in a system, market, or practice. The word is most often used in a figurative sense, describing events, innovations, or developments that radically alter how something functions. In some contexts it can also refer to physically crushing or pulverizing, but the figurative sense is by far the most common in everyday language.

Usage and examples. Mullistaa is typically transitive and takes a direct object such as markkinat (markets), talous (the economy), järjestelmä (the system), or tapa ajatella (way of thinking). For example, "Uusi teknologinen ratkaisu mullisti markkinat" means that the new technology disrupted the markets. "Kaupan malli mullisti koko alan" conveys a similar upheaval in an industry. The intransitive form, mullistua, describes the happening of disruption, as in "markkinat mullistuivat" (the markets were disrupted).

Nuance and tone. The verb carries a strong, dynamic connotation and is common in journalism, business, and political discourse when describing major changes. It implies that the change is substantial and often rapid, rather than gradual. See also mullistus (upheaval, disruption) and mullistua (to be disrupted, to undergo upheaval). Etymology traces to mullistus, indicating disturbance or upheaval, with usage established in Finnish in the mid-20th century.